Knock Out Rose renewal pruning question

We renewal prune all knock outs every year, and most of the plants have been pruned yearly since install so its all nice green wood. Some to about 12'' and some taller. My question is in regards to dormant buds on the older wood and your experience...I'm attaching a photo to help this make sense.

What I'm talking about is the very old wood at the base. If I cut into this old wood with a pruning saw, will dormant buds set out or will I kill the plant? Last year, we had to prune these high due to the same question and I would like to have more new growth lower on the plants.

This plant is in a pretty shaded area and either shade or stupid driver is the cause for the prostrate growth.

I wasn't referring to cutting the dead wood, I was talking about the live wood at the base. It looks likes its dead wood, but this plant has just 1 dead branch at the bottom of the photo. All other gray areas have green shoots off it.

Clcare2, I've actually had really good success with sheering the roses during the summer to extend the bloom period--most are still in bloom for Christmas here. We hand prune between January and March also.

No new growth from roots, no layering due to our strict bed management. Its almost worth it to just take the winch to them and plant new at cost or experiment and see how far we can cut. I want more compact plants there; I was hired as landscape manager and I think I should take severe action with replacement risk. The only canes that can be cut are currently green. I've only been on site for 2 years of this growth, and I feel it wasn't pruned often before me.

Those roses are anemic and need more fertilize. You have got to fertilize them monthly year round. New ones isn't going to solve the problem of them not growing. And don't overthink this pruning you can't hurt knock out roses but don't cut them to the ground. Take a winch to em Those could be pulled out by hand.

I like to use my winch its fun and easy Are you jealous that you don't have one? HAHA

I'll check the soil first. I blame on old age and lack of juvenile pruning + shade. I've noticed very healthy azaleas and camellias in the same beds; the roses are healthy too, just old. The roses are still blooming today.